Federal Heroin Charges Levied For Local Deal

June 19, 2013

Three individuals have been handed down federal indictments by the Grand Jury in United States District Court, charging them with drug-related offenses to have occurred at or near New Martinsville.

Damon Rashad Reese aka "Mac," is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and the distribution of 100 grams and more of heroin. Count two of the indictment charges Reese with use of a telephone to facilitate the distribution of heroin.

Count one is to have occurred from January 2013 to on or about May 13, 2013. Count two is specified as occurring on May 8.

Two other individuals, Matthew Scott Hedrick and Kimberly Lynn Nelson, are charged with conspiracy to possess with with intent to distribute and the distribution of 100 grams and more of heroin, to have occurred from January 2013 to May 6. The indictment states Hedrick and Nelson allegedly had a "tacit" understanding with Reese to commit the offense. Count two charges Hedrick and Nelson with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin, to have occurred on or about May 6, 2013.

The government will seek the forfeiture of property used to commit the above offenses, including the following: a sum of money equal to at least $25,000 in United States currency, representing the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the offense; $8,674 in currency seized May 13, 2013; and a 2002 Lexus sedan.

Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught stated he could not comment on the substance of the indictment, however he wished to express his appreciation to United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld for the assistance of his office in the investigation.

"I appreciate the hard work done by him and the state and federal agencies that worked together on this investigation," Haught stated. "I am encouraged by these federal indictments and am confident that more will follow, both at the state and federal levels. Prescription pill and heroin trafficking have become a national problem and law enforcement in Wetzel County and the Upper Ohio Valley are aggressively pursuing these cases."